Over on the iFanboy website ( [link] ) one of the writers started a discussion about why there are not more examples of non-genre comic books. Since I have myself often pondered this question (and since I plan to start being a lot more active with my blogging and this is a perfect trial run so to speak) I thought I would share my response here as well. Enjoy.

I can't help but wonder if the leaning towards genre fiction in comics is but a symptom of the medium itself. This is not to say that comics can not tell non genre stories with incredible power and effectiveness. But even more the slice of life comics often 'succumb' to some twist or turn eventually. For example you mention Strangers in Paradise and I know at least three people who wouldn't read it after trying a few volumes because they said it was "too unrealistic and fantasy" for there taste. And as much as I enjoy Strangers I could see there point. Another example would be Blue Monday. Also if you were to ask me my favorite currently in production dealing with the lives of characters? Scott Pilgrim. My point, and opinion, is that comics as a medium are not naturally suited for non genre stories. Can they do them? Yes but as medium comics are not more naturally tuned for more character driven pieces than any other medium like TV, movies, books, plays, musicals, songs... I think you get my point.

While genre fiction is often a medium that can be most freely captured in comics where there is not the wall of budget issues to overcome. Or the need for paragraph upon paragraph to describe something. By their very nature they lend themselves to visually driven storytelling. Look at some of the earliest modern examples like Little Nemo or Krazy Kat. The way in which comics can bridge the mediums of print and TV/movies is one of the mediums greatest strengths. Yet along with these strengths come weakness as well. Non-genre novels cannot allow access into a characters head and follow a breadth of time that is difficult for anything but long form comic books to match. Conversely film/TV can rely on such devices as strong acting and effective scoring to make non genre pieces either more exiting or compelling for an audience. Plus anyone wanting to tell the kind a non genre story in comic form must overcome the unfortunate prejudices that the general public has. These limitations can be over come by a sufficiently skilled writer of course but they must be acknowledged.

By the way, and just for the record, there is a genre of comics that is filled to the brim with non genre stories. It is called Shojo Manga. I'm serious. For every three books about magical girls and living cupcakes there is four more about ordinary people (admittly often kids but there are plenty of exceptions) dealing with ordinary problems. Books like Nana, Kare Kano (aka His and Her Circumstances), and Train Man are powerful examples of realistic and slice of life stories about a variety (i.e. not just high school kids) of people dealing with a variety of things. And there are plenty others out there. So there are plenty of International books out there available to scratch that itch if you are willing to give them a chance.